The Shoulder Bag

The Lace-Up Sandals

The Lightweight Trouser

If you’re like us, you’re perpetually prepared for summer, mentally speaking. Earthly possession-wise, you may have a little catching up to do. Why not start the season of frivolity with some semi-frivolous seasonal shopping? Save your hard-earned dollars for your upcoming adventures: We’ve tracked down 50 fun, functional, cheap summer clothes and accessories, all under $100. From a chic water reusable bottle (because even if the president doesn’t believe in saving the environment, we do) to jangly ankle jewelry and essential summer dresses, this roundup’s got all the goods.

What Do Male Termites Do When No Females Are Around? Termite Inspection Tucson

What would happen if male termites found themselves without any female mates? This scenario occurs in nature occasionally, and has involved many different types of animals. Different animals have different ways of solving problems, and the termites’ way of solving the above problem is surprising.

Recent research has demonstrated that termites turn to homosexual relationships when females are absent from a group. Even though this makes termites the most progressive type of insect, they are also very brutal. For example, when male termites are without females, they will not only resort to homosexual behavior, but they will also hunt down heterosexual termite couples in order to mate with the female, but only after killing the male, of course–not too cool!

Scientists used to be under the impression that homosexual behavior in insects was caused by misrecognizing other insects as being of the opposite sex. However, as a result of this current research into termite mating, it looks like same-sex sexual behavior is deliberate, and not the result of a mistake, at least in the case of Japanese termites. Most of the time, termites remain monogamous and heterosexual. But since males do not live long on their own, they become particularly vulnerable in the absence of their partners. This is why teaming up with another male could be beneficial.

This study also revealed that male termites survive for a much longer period of time if they nest with another male as opposed to nesting alone. The male-to-male relationships were also used for hunting down females. This is especially important since termites are more likely to be attacked while out hunting, and two termites are much more beneficial than just one. The scientists also noticed that these termites will invade and inhabit a heterosexual couples nest with no problem. It should be noted, however, that this homosexual behavior is clearly born out of the need to survive.

Have you ever heard of any other invertebrate animal demonstrating unconventional sexual behavior?

An upstart challenger for the New York City mayor’s office is calling out Bill de Blasio’s “baffling” claim that the city has ended marijuana arrests — and he’s pushing for the city to decriminalize possession of the drug.

Robert Gangi, a police reform activist, is challenging de Blasio for the Democratic Party nomination over what Gangi says is de Blasio’s failure to keep his campaign promises. Ending marijuana arrests — and ‘broken windows’ policing — is a major component of Gangi’s platform.

The broken windows theory of policing is drawn from a 1982 sociological study which states that harsh punishments for crimes like petty vandalism or marijuana use can contribute to a safer environment reduce overall crime rates. It’s implementation, however, has had mixed results.

“Whatever the political climate, it’s the right thing to do,” Gangi said of ending marijuana arrests in an interview with Business Insider. “This is a view that more and more people share — is that this is a question of when, not if.”

Marijuana arrests disproportionately affect people of color, according to 2016 NYPD statistics. Gangi’s advocacy group, PROP, reported in a 2016 study that people of color accounted for 90% of arrests for suspicion of marijuana possession and sale, based on the figures provided by the NYPD — despite de Blasio’s claims that the city has ended marijuana possession arrests.

In an email blast to supporters, Gangi’s campaign said that the NYPD made 18,136 marijuana arrests and issued 20,712 summonses, for a total of 38,848 punitive interactions for marijuana possession in 2016. That’s in spite of former NYPD police commissioner Bill Bratton’s 2014 announcement that people caught with less than 25 grams of marijuana would receive a “noncriminal violation,” or what amounts to a ticket, rather than a criminal charge.

For his part, de Blasio drew a distinction between low-level possession charges and the sale of marijuana in comments to reporters in May.

The mayor’s office was not immediately available for comment.

When asked about the political situation — marijuana is illegal under federal law, though eight states have voted to legalize it — Gangi says that marijuana decriminalization is “urgently important” now more than ever.

“It’s way past time for the city to end broken windows policing, in part because it would serve as a protective step regarding immigrant New Yorkers,” Gangi added. “It’s all the more reason to not arrest for low-level infractions.”

As for how decriminalization would actually look, Gangi said he would instruct police to stop ticketing and arresting people for the recreational use of marijuana.

“We’d only authorize a police response if the sale was connected to the exploitation of minors, or on a school playground, or things like that,” Gangi said.

Gangi pointed to the boom in tax revenue in states like Colorado, where recreational marijuana use has been legalized, as evidence that legalization has worked.

If Gangi wins the mayoral election in November, he says he would absolutely use the “bully pulpit” of the mayor’s office to advocate for statewide legalization.

“It’s a policy that would save money,” Gangi said. “You wouldn’t need to direct law enforcement to sanction marijuana.”

“New York has already decriminalized small amounts of marijuana and yet people still get arrested and charged with having small amounts of marijuana,” Zeidman told Business Insider. “In fact, the data reveals that people of color disproportionately bear the brunt of those arrests.”

In Zeidman’s view, New York City should be pushing for outright legalization.

Gangi’s chances at winning the mayoral election are pretty slim, as he’s going up a Democratic incumbent. 60% of New Yorkers approve of de Blasio, according to a Quinnipiac poll from May.